Berger



(No Model.)

D. M. ROTHENBBRGER.

RAFTER SUPPORT.

I No. 564,844. Patented July 28, 1896-.

5144mm foz mmv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OF Tl/VO-THIRDS TO CHARLES B.

SAME PLACE.

KELLER AND FRANK K. SENER, OF

RAFTER-SU PPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 564,844, dated July 28,1896. Application filed January 11, 1896. Serial No. 575,140. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. ROTHEN- BERGER, of Lancaster, in thecounty of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Rafter-Supports; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform part of this specification.

This invention pertains to rafter-supports, the object being to providea device of sim- I 5 ple and improved form for securing the upper endsof rafters for porches and other auxiliary structures to the walls ofthe main building. Much difficulty has been experienced in securelyfastening porch-rafters to walls, particularly those formed of brick,the tendency being to work loose, thus greatly weakening the strength ofthe roof. This objection is entirely done away with by using myimprovement.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafterfully described and claimed, and illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, in Which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper end 0 of arafter provided with my improved support, the wall to which it issecured being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 Withthe socket-plate removed from the rafter. Fig. 3 is a sectional planview.

5 Fig. 4 illustrates in detail the socket-plate. Fig. 5 illustrates indetail the anchor for use in brick walls. Fig. 6 is a perspective viewof an anchor of slightly-different form from that shown in Fig. 5. Fig.7 illustrates in detail the form of anchor employed for framestructures.

A designates the rafter, which bears against the wall B at its upperend, where it is formed with the inwardly-extending transverse slot 5 C.An anchor-plate D is inserted between the bricks of the wall, the samebeing of substantially the same thickness as the mortar. The inner endof this plate is turned downward to form a hook or flange just behindthe brick, as indicated in the drawings, thus pre- Venting thewithdrawal of the anchor-plate and necessitating the removal of thebrick.

The portion of anchor D extending beyond the surface of the wall isthicker than the inner portion, thus constituting a flange or shoulderD, which forms a bearing against the wall-surface, thus bracing theanchorplate against downward pull. Upon the outer extremity of theanchor is the transverselyextending head forming oppositely-projectingtrunnions E, the rafter when in position fitting up over the said head,and in fact over all of the anchor projecting from the wall.

To secure the rafter to the anchor, I pro vide socket-plates F, havingthe enlarged heads G, in which the sockets H are formed, into which theoppositely-projecting trunnions extend, While the reduced portions ofthe plates are secured by screws or bolts to the rafter, thus holdingthe rafter firmly to the projected anchor. These socket-plates arepreferably of ornamental design, thus adding rather than detracting tothe interior View of the roof.

The anchor-plate illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown in detail in Fig.5. A slight modification such as shown in Fig. 6 may be resorted to, inwhich the inner end of the anchor is split centrally a short distanceand the parts thus split bent up and down or in opposite directions, soas to secure double hold for the plate in the brick wall, as will bereadily understood.

The anchor illustrated in Fig. 7 is formed with a tapering stem for usein frame structures in which the anchor-plate is simply driven, the sametaking a firm hold by the toothed or serrated edges of the stem orpoint, as is shown. Thus it is rendered impossible for the rafter tobecome displaced from the Wall to which it is secured without firstremoving the anchor, which when properly tightened is most firm andsecure. The socket-plates are the only portions of the device whichappear to view, the remainder being entirely hidden thereby.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

I 1. An improved rafter-support comprising an anchor secured to andprojecting from the wall, lateral projections upon opposite sides of theanchor, and socket-plates arranged oppositely and secured to a recessedrafter which fits over the anchor, the socket-plates embracing thelateral extensions of the anand provided with oppositelyprojectingtrunnions, the projecting ends of the anchor being adapted to extendinto the transverse slot or depression in the rafter, and the platessecured to the opposite sides of the rafter and formed with the socketends into which the trunnions extend, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL M. ROTHENBERGER.

WVitnesses:

G110. A. LANE, C. G. BASSLER.

